Thread guide and tensioning means for knitting machines



w. P. FORD 2,097,565

THREAD GUIDE AND TENSION INC! MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Nov. 2, 1937.

Filed Oct. 24, 195s 4 Sheets-Shget l Inventor Attorneys Nov. 2, 1937. w;P FORD 2,097,565

THREAD GUIDE AND TENSIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 24,1956 4 Sheets-Skeet 2 Inventor W. F. Word Attorneys W. P. FORD Nov. 2,1937.

THREAD GUIDE AND TENSIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 $heets-Sheet 5W P. Ford By 2mm Filed Oct. 24, 1936 w. P. FORD 2,097,565

THREAD GUIDE AND TENSIONING MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Nov. 2, 1937.

Filed Oct. 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NN SNR om llll Inventor W.P.F01d

Fatented ev. 2,; i193? THREAD GKIEDE TENSHGNIING FDR KN'H'ETmG-MACHHNESMEAN S William It. Ford, Decatur, Ala. Application October 24, 1936,Serial No. 107,488

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a combined thread fastening trough,guide, and tensioning means for use in conjunction with a, fullfashioned hosiery knitting machine.

The salient feature of the invention relates to a bodily detachableguide frame constructed for cooperation with a thread moistening troughwith especially designed and properly allocated tensioning elementsacting on the multiplicity of individual threads as they are withdrawnfrom the trough and moved in the direction of the knitting machine.

Stated more specifically, the chief novelty is predicated upon theaforementioned guide frame unit characterized primarily by theassociation therewith of a pair of spaced parallel glass rods over whichthe moistened threads are drawn, there being a plurality of weightedglass rings located between the rods and hung on the threads to put thethreads under proper tension, and said rings being associated with guardfingers.

Other and more specific features and advantages of the arrangement willbecome more readily apparent from the following description anddrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete 39 apparatus as constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse or vertical sectional View taken approximatelyonthe plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

35 Fig. 3 is what may be called a front elevation showing the liquidcontaining trough and the eyelet equipped guide plate attached theretoand rising therefrom.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective 40 views of features of theremovable. frame showing the glass rod accommodation or adapter keeperand bearing elements.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections on the lines 6-6 and 1-1 respectively,of Fig. 1.

45 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the glass ring guard andretention fingers.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the duplex bearing elements50 thread tensioning rods or rollers.

Fig.'11 is a perspective view of one of the glass rods or rollers.

Briefly, and by way of introduction, it is to be pointed out that theapparatus is composed 55 essentially of two distinguishable units;namely for the ends of the (on. tic-125) machine (not shown). As shownin Figs. 6 and '7,

the diverging side walls of the trough are provided with dependingvertical flanges i6 and ad- 10 vantage is taken of this arrangement todetachably associate the thread guide and tensioning unit it therewith.

The unit l3 comprises what may be generally referred to as a bodilyapplicable or detachable 15 frame. The longitudinal frame members are inthe nature of inverted V-shaped adapters to engage over the flangedwalls of the trough. The outer flanges of the adapters are denoted at iiand engage the depending flanges i6 while the 20 inner downwardlydiverging flanges 98 rest upon or against the inner surfaces of thetrough walls. The frame also includes horizontal cross members securedas by soldering to the longitudinal frame members, there being three ofsuch cross 25 members, and these are distinguished by the numerals l9and 20. That is to say the two end cross'members are denoted by thenumerals i9 and the central or intervening one by the numeral 20. Allthree of these members land 20 are provided at their central portionswith depending U-shaped hangers 2i which serve to accommodate a glassroller or thread tensioning rod 22. This is submerged in the liquid inthe trough and the threads pass therebeneath as shown in Fig. 2. The rodis permitted to raise or lower itself in the hangers Use as to take careof varying presv sure. That is to say, the roller or rod 22 issubstantially floating and self adapting. On the discharge side of thetrough'it will be observed that 40 the central cross member 20 isprovided with double acting U-shaped keepers or adapter members 23 ofthe type shown in Fig. 4. These serve to accommodate thecentral portionof a. pair of spaced parallel thread tensioning rollers or rods 24 and25 of glass. Similar closed saddle-like bearings 26 and 21 are mountedon corresponding ends of the cross straps l9 and these serve toaccommodate and hold in place the outer ends of the two glass rollers 24and 25.

Thus the rollers are disposed in spaced parallel-' ism and rotatablymounted in the respective bearing elements 23; 26 and 21 as is obvious.This arrangement facilitates assembly and replacement of the glassrollers 4 and 25.

shown in the drawings.

I next call attention to the thread tensioning rings 28. There is a ringfor each thread and the ring is located between the respective rods- 24and 25 and preferably constructed of glass. It is suspended or hung onthat portion of the thread which passes over the two rollers 24 and 25as The ring is in effect a weight and places the desired tension on thethread operating in conjunction with the turnable or rotatable rollers24 and 25. Incidentally, it is immaterial whether the so-called rollersturn or not, since they are primarily adapted to permit the threads toride thereover in an obvious man-, ner.

Of utmost importance is the association with each ring of a guard finger29 of the type shown in Fig. 8. This is made of a single length of wirebent upon itself into general U-shaped form and the free ends or prongs30 are anchored on the flange H as shown in Fig. 6 for'instance as bysoldering. The horizontal projecting portion of the finger extendsthrough the ring as shown in the same figure, and limits the upwardlifting of the ring, and also prevents the ring from dropping down inthe trough if and when the thread on which it is hung, breaks. Thismakes it unnecessary to fish into the trough when passing another threadthrough the momentarily useless ring.

Looking at the other or intake side of the trough as shown in Fig. 2, itwill be observed that the frame unit l3 may also include the part of anupstanding guide plate 3| and this is provided with eyelets 32 throughwhich the threads pass. The threads are drawn off of the customary conesor spools (not shown) threaded through the eyes 32, carried down in theliquid in the trough, underneath the floating glass rod or roller 22.Then each thread is passed over the adjacent parallel tensioning rollers28 and 25 while at the same time being threaded through the adjacent orcooperable tensioning ring.

One outstanding feature of the invention has to do with the provision ofthe complete separable unit or assemblage l3 which is bodilyattachableand detachable in relation to the trough l2. This permits theunit iii to be and allows the trough to be cleaned without detaching orbreaking the threads.

A second feature is predicated on the provision of the frame structurehaving the eye equipped guide plate 31 on one side and the ring equippedtensioning roller assembly on the opposite longitudinal side.

Further novelty apparently resides in the provision of the unit l3characterized by the V- shaped adapters composed of the elements l1 andI8, and the cross-straps having the saddle-like hearings to accommodatethe three distinguishlifted ofi of the trough able glass rollers orrods. Of outstanding importance, however, is the arrangement wherein therollers or rods 24 and 25 are arranged in close spaced parallelism andon an even plane with each other, and supported in appropriate bearingson the detachable frame unit [3, there being glass rings located betweensaid rollers and said rings permitting the threads to pass individuallytherethrough and the rings being cooperable with guard fingers so thatthey are limited in their upward lift and prevented from dropping downinto the trough in an obvious and purposeful manner.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings. isregarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrange- Therefore, a more lengthydescription v ment of details coming within the field of inventionclaimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:---

1. As a component part of a thread guide tensioning unit of the classdescribed, a frame, a pair of spaced parallel freely removable andturnable glass rods mounted on said frame to permit passage thereover ofa thread, a glass ring disposed between said rods and hung onthethreads, and

a relatively fixed guard finger extending thru said ring to limit theupward movement of the ring and to prevent the ring from dropping downin the manner and for the purposes described.

2..In a structure of the class described, a frame, a multiple eyeequipped thread guide plate on'the frame, a pair of spaced parallelglass rods on the frame in opposed relationship to'said plate, aplurality of glass tension rings located between said glass rods, and arelatively fixed guard finger for each glass ring, said finger extendingnormally through the ring in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. In a structure of the class described, a frame of substantiallyrectangular shape, a multiple eyeequipped plate upstanding from one sideof said frame, a pair of opposed hangers depending from the ends of theframe, respectively, a glass rod freely mounted at its opposite ends insaid hang- .ers, a pair of similar rods rotatably mounted sidebye-sideon the other side of said frame, a plurality of tensioning ringsdisposed between the rods of said pair, and a plurality of fixed guardfingers extending from said other side of the frame through said rings,respectively.

- WILLIAM P. FORD.

